Ajinkya Rahane believes that the Australian bowling will continue to be a challenge despite the absence of key bowlers

Ajinkya Rahane is looking to help India win the limited-overs tour Down Under

Indian batsman, Ajinkya Rahane believes that the Indian Cricket Team will perform well in their limited-overs tour of Australia that is set to start on January 12. Rahane was speaking to the media before the team left for Australia.

Rahane was confident ahead of the tour to Australia saying that, although playing a weakened Australia will be a challenge, India would do well against the World Champions in their backyard.

For the limited-overs series, Australia will miss the two ‘Mitchells’ – Johnson, who retired from international cricket in 2015, and Starc, who is nursing a stress fracture injury. Australia's bowling attack will be led by the ICC Emerging Cricketer, Josh Hazlewood, who will most likely be supported by the likes of James Pattinson.

“It's a challenge always to play against Australia. Yes, they will miss Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, but they have got other bowlers like (James) Pattinson. We are going to focus first on ODIs and then think about T20 series. By then we would have got used to the conditions. I am confident we will do well on tour,” Rahane said.

“They (Johsnson and Starc) have been top performers for Australia. Australia will definitely miss them. But they have Pattinson and other good bowlers. As a batting unit we have to play on the merit of the ball,” Rahane added.

Rahane is keen on carrying on his form from the home series against South Africa and doing well Down Under. He expressed his desire to keep working for the team in any way he possibly can.

“I always try to improve my game (when asked about rotating the strike in ODIs). I am confident about myself. I am a team man and would be happy to do whatever team management wants me to do.

“Two Test hundreds against South Africa in last Test were very special as they were made at the place where I made my debut and we won the series too. For this tour have made normal preparations to face bouncy conditions in Australia. We will play in challenging conditions but we want to return with a win,” Rahane said.

Although Rahane's ODI average is only 32.53, in 2015 he performed fairly well for a player who was moved all over the batting order. In 21 matches, he had scored 722 runs at an average of just above 40 and scored six fifties.

After having ended the year exceptionally well, the 27-year-old will hope to get a good start to the calendar year and help his team to greater heights.

India play five ODIs and three T20Is in Australia, beginning on January 12 in Perth. The series will end with the last T20I that will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground.